Andy Mulligan was brought up in South London. He worked as a theatre director for ten years before travels in Asia prompted him to retrain as a teacher. He has taught English and drama in India, Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines and the UK. He now lives in England, and is writing full time. Children’s books, radio drama and screenplays: Andy works in a variety of media, though he remains best known for young adult fiction.

‘Liquidator’ was published last year by David Fickling, and the new book - ‘Dog’ - will be on the shelves in the Autumn of 2017. The two books could hardly be more different. Whilst the former is a nail-biting, high-octane thriller following children determined to right a terrible wrong, the latter is a good, old-fashioned love story. ‘I’ve never written about animals before,’ says Andy. ‘I’ve certainly never ventured into the world of animals that talk – but the idea came, and wouldn’t go away.’ Boy meets dog, but the romance seems doomed from the start. Both characters have complications in their lives, which oddly parallel each other – and out of that tension comes a story of loss and desperate yearning. ‘It’s a story about insecurity, and our need to connect despite the terror of connecting. Oh, and it’s funny, of course – very funny.’

The Ribblestrop trilogy was completed in 2013 and continues to do good business in both the UK and America. ‘

Trash’, meanwhile, seems unstoppable. Hailed by the Times as 'outstanding ...exceptionally satisfying', the tale of three dumpsite boys and the astonishing discovery they make amongst the city's refuse has been sold all over the world. David Fickling published Trash in the Autumn of 2010 and the book is now published in thirty languages across the globe. The novel was shortlisted for the 2012 Carnegie medal, and film rights were snapped up soon after UK publication. Stephen Daldry directed Martin Sheen and Rooney Mara, plus a host of Brazilian stars. The film was released to great critical acclaim in 2015 and is available on DVD (certificate 15). ‘Trash’ is also studied in school all around the UK.

'The Boy With Two Heads' remains Andy’s favorite published novel. The Daily Mail called it 'an extraordinary examination of grief'. Part comedy, part horror-story, it's another exploration of children under intolerable pressure, and Andy is currently writing the screenplay. He continues to write for Radio 4, and ‘School Play’ starring Tom Hollander was shortlisted for the Best Radio Series Award 2016. Steve Coogan will be filming ‘A Kidnapping’ in Manila this year, which is an adaptation of Andy’s 2014 radio series…and there are various commissions ongoing. ‘I have to say one of the projects I’m most excited about is Sally Gardner’s novel, ‘Maggot Moon’, says Andy. ‘I’m doing the screenplay right now: an agonizing novel about standing up for what you believe in…a joy to work on such a riveting book.’